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Health Internet domain names

WHO has urged the Governmental Advisory Committee and the ICANN Board to postpone the attribution of “.health” until such time as following broad-based consultation of the health community, including public and private sectors, adequate baseline conditions for its operation are elaborated, and their implementation and observance can be assured. The health community has raised critical issues for ICANN to consider in allocating this global resource for health. Public comments submitted by nongovernmental organizations and others triggered Objections by the ICANN Independent Objector and the At-Large Advisory Committee.

Regulated industries and professions raise inherent public interest and consumer protection concerns recognized at all levels of government and by intergovernmental entities. In its Beijing Communique (April 2013), the GAC stressed the need for additional safeguards for regulated sectors such as health. Public comments advocated for even stronger protections to be applied. They argued that ICANN should postpone the attribution of “.health”, including its Chinese variant and highlighted the need for appropriate governance and consumer protection measures.

Further ICANN meetings have continued discussions on controversial top-level domain names, but without setting additional safeguards on the health-related strings. Recent articles, as well as letters to the ICANN Board have further highlighted the need for the Board to ensure appropriate governance in the allocation of the .health TLD.